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Effects of chronic exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on energy balance in developing rats

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Pelletier A, Delanaud S, Décima P, Thuroczy G, de Seze R, Cerri M, Bach V, Libert JP, Loos N. · 2013

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Chronic RF-EMF exposure in developing rats increased REM sleep episode frequency independently of ambient temperature and also increased daytime food intake.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers examined the effects of chronic RF-EMF exposure (900 MHz, 1 V m(-1)) on the main functions involved in body energy homeostasis, including feeding behaviour, sleep, and thermoregulatory processes. Thirteen juvenile male Wistar rats were exposed to continuous RF-EMF for 5 weeks and compared with 11 non-exposed animals. The frequency of rapid eye movement sleep episodes was greater in the exposed group independently of ambient temperature, with increases of 42.1% at 24 °C and 31.6% at 31 °C. Exposure also increased daytime food intake, and the researchers concluded that RF-EMF exposure can induce energy-saving processes without strongly disturbing the overall sleep pattern.

Why This Matters

The REM sleep frequency increase was seen regardless of ambient temperature, while several other sleep-related effects did depend on ambient temperature. Measurements were recorded at 24 °C and then at 31 °C beginning in the sixth week of exposure. At 31 °C, exposed animals had a significantly lower subcutaneous tail temperature of -1.21 °C compared to controls at all sleep stages, suggesting peripheral vasoconstriction confirmed in an experiment with the vasodilator prazosin. The researchers suggested that exposure appears to modify vasomotor tone by acting peripherally through α-adrenoceptors. The researchers noted that the elicited vasoconstriction may restrict body cooling, whereas energy intake increases.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.0003 and 0.0001 W/kg
Electric Field
1 V/m
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
23.5 h/day, 7 days/week for 5 weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 1 V/m for electric fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.0003 and 0.0001 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects documented below the Building Biology "No Concern" threshold (0.001 W/kg)FCC limit is 16,000 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

We examined the effects of chronic RF-EMF exposure (900 MHz, 1 V m(-1)) on the main functions involved in body energy homeostasis (feeding behaviour, sleep and thermoregulatory processes).

Thirteen juvenile male Wistar rats were exposed to continuous RF-EMF for 5 weeks at 24 °C of air tem...

We showed that the frequency of rapid eye movement sleep episodes was greater in the RF-EMF-exposed ...

Our results show that RF-EMF exposure can induce energy-saving processes without strongly disturbing the overall sleep pattern

Cite This Study
Pelletier A, Delanaud S, Décima P, Thuroczy G, de Seze R, Cerri M, Bach V, Libert JP, Loos N. (2013). Effects of chronic exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on energy balance in developing rats Environ Sci Pollut Res Int.20, pages2735–2746(2013).
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2013_effects_of_chronic_exposure_168,
  author = {Pelletier A and Delanaud S and Décima P and Thuroczy G and de Seze R and Cerri M and Bach V and Libert JP and Loos N. },
  title = {Effects of chronic exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on energy balance in developing rats},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.1007/s11356-012-1266-5},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-012-1266-5},
}
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1266-5

Cited By (30 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used chronic RF-EMF exposure at 900 MHz and 1 V m(-1).
The frequency of REM sleep episodes was greater in the exposed group independently of ambient temperature, with a 42.1% increase at 24 °C and a 31.6% increase at 31 °C.
At 31 °C, exposed animals had a significantly lower subcutaneous tail temperature (-1.21 °C) than controls at all sleep stages, suggesting peripheral vasoconstriction.
Exposure to RF-EMF increased daytime food intake by +0.22 g per hour.
The researchers concluded that RF-EMF exposure can induce energy-saving processes without strongly disturbing the overall sleep pattern.